Address Space Intro Qs

Question 1

What are the three main segments in a basic address space?

Answer 1

Code, Heap, Stack

Question 2

What does the stack segment store?

Answer 2

function call frames(return addresses and saved registers), local variables, and function parameters

Question 3

When memory is allocated using malloc() in C, in which segment is it placed?

Answer 3

Heap

Question 4

How is code(instructions) typically placed in the address space?

Answer 4

at the lowest portion of the address space

Question 5

Why are the stack and heap typically placed at opposite ends of the address space?

Answer 5

to allow them to grow dynamically towards each other

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of memory virtualization?

Answer 6

abstract physical memory for each process, giving the illusion of having its own isolated and contiguous memory

Question 7

What is a goal of virtual memory systems?

Answer 7

Transparency, Efficiency, Protection

Question 8

What is meant by “transparency” in the context of virtual memory?

Answer 8

programs can run without being aware of the underlying physical memory

Question 9

When a programmer prints out a pointer address in their program, what type of address are they seeing?

Answer 9

a virtual address

Question 10

What key memory protection feature did multiprogramming introduce as an important requirement?

‘memory’

Answer 10

memory isolation between processes